Musculoskeletal system

Mobility and independence

GEY 3601-001 Fall 2003 Instructor: Ross Andel, Ph.D.

PART I: Skeletal system

Components: - Bone - Joints - Cartilage - Ligaments - Tendons Function: - Support body organs

- Protect brain, heart, lungs

- Movement (with muscles) - Storage

- Blood cell formation

Skeleton
Axial - skull, spinal column, thorax Appendicular - Arms, legs, shoulders, hips

Spine
Cervical

Thoracic

Lumbar Sacrum Tail bone

Bone
Compact (hard/dense)
Spongy (cancellous) Marrow (cavities)

Age-related changes in the skeletal system

Gradual loss of calcium (bone density)
About 2-4% a year, accelerated by inactivity

Changes in cartilage

Disorders of the skeletal system

Osteoporosis

Risk factors for osteoporosis

Prevention of osteoporosis
as well as other disorders of the skeleton

Arthritis

1. Osteoarthritis 2. rheumatoid arthritis 3. goit

Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease)

Most common form of arthritis Potential causes obesity, trauma, diabetes, joint or immune system disorders Symptoms joint pain, stiffness, inflammation Treatment non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroid injections, arthroscopic surgery

Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease)

Rheumatoid arthritis
Autoimmune/genetic disorder Can involve more than just joints Symptoms inflammation, thickening of the joint capsule stiffness Treatment NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections

Rheumatoid arthritis

Gout
Metabolic disease of the kidneys, uric acid accumulation Symptoms inflammation, pain Treatment NSAIDs

Pagets disease
Metabolic bone disease bone destruction and abnormal re-growth deformity

PART II: Muscles of the body

Skeletal

Smooth Cardiac

Skeletal muscles
Voluntary, attached to the skeleton Functions: - Movement - Posture - Heat production - Excitability - Ability to contract/extend - Elasticity

Smooth muscles
E.g. digestive system, blood vessels Slow sustained, rhythmical Role sustain essential bodily functions Movement of materials/fluids through and out of the body

Cardiac muscle
Resembles a smooth muscle Own pacemaker + autonomic nervous system (mostly involuntary) About 2.5 billion contractions in a normal lifetime

Age-related changes
Skeletal muscles: - Reduced muscle strength and mass - Reduction in strength of contractions
Smooth/cardiac muscles: - Loss of elasticity - Loss of muscle strength

Spinal alignment problems

Common in adolescents as well as older adults Can be related to osteoporosis in the spine, muscle dystrophy Leads to discomfort, back pain Treatment exercise, surgery

Scoliosis
A lateral (away from the middle) or sideways curvature of the spine

Dorsal kyphosis
Extreme curving of the dorsal spine, leads a slouching posture

Lordosis
increased curvature of the lumbar spine

Muscle disorders
Muscle cramps
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) Bursitis

Myalgia

Preserving health of muscles

Strength training Cardiovascular exercise

Stretching
Healthy diet Control weight Avoid smoking